All requests are treated in the strictest of confidence. You will not be entered onto a mailing list and your details will not be passed on to anybody else. Please note we can only send information to the person completing this form.

Recruitment

Cellmark has grown to become one of the UK's largest forensic
companies. Known for the quality of our work, we are looking
for experienced, like-minded forensic professionals to join
us as we continue to expand. We have vacancies for a number
of new roles in the North and South of England.

Cellmark encourages personal development and offers an excellent
benefits package. So, if you have proven expertise and a passion
for forensic science then talk to us.

Email us at topjobs@cellmark.co.uk
or call/text our dedicated recruitment hotline on 07531 236419
for a confidential discussion.

People just like you

DNA testing

Cellmark is proud to be the UK's most recommended DNA testing
service. We have been providing a confidential, conclusive &
court approved DNA testing service for almost 3 decades.

We are accredited by the Ministry of Justice as a body that
may carry out parentage tests (otherwise called DNA Testing
or Paternity Testing) as directed by the civil courts in England
and Wales under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969.

Drug & Alcohol testing service

We now deliver the same level of scientific rigour, chain of custody management and
industry leading customer service with our comprehensive family law drug & alcohol
testing service.

Our standard panel tests for 26 different drugs and their metabolites - as we say "simple yet comprehensive"!

As you would expect we offer a clear pricing structure, a network of trained sample
collectors, standard analysis turnaround times within 3-5 working days including
interpretative statements and backed by advice and support on the end of the phone.

Our laboratory is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to the International Standard ISO/ IEC 17025:2005 to test for a wide and expanding range of drugs in hair.

People just like you

The home of DNA testing!

Cellmark pioneered the introduction of DNA analysis for paternity
testing and our services have an enviable reputation amongst
members of the public, family support organisations and the
medical profession.

New lower prices

Inline with the change in Legal funding we've reduced our prices but don't worry, you'll still receive the same, industry leading, quality of testing, analysis and customer service that we have delivered since June 1987.

More than DNA!

Our service for Drug and
Alcohol testing.

This service allows our legal and local authority customers to benefit from
the same levels of quality and service they have come to expect
from us. We have ensured that this our service is both
comprehensive and simple to understand.

Our laboratory is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 to test for a
wide and expanding range of drugs in hair.

Here is the list of the most frequently asked questions on DNA testing

The decision to have a paternity
test should not be taken lightly and you may have lots of questions. We
urge you to consider all of the people involved and to decide whether this
is the best course of action, particularly for any children in question.
The following are the most frequent questions we get asked.

DNA paternity testing
is a complex scientific process, carried out on a simple mouth swab,
which can positively identify relationships between people. Most
commonly it is used to establish if a man is the true biological
father of a child.

DNA paternity testing is also often referred to simply as a DNA test, a paternity test or DNA testing. It was developed by Sir Alec Jeffreys at the University of Leicester in 1985. Cellmark became the UK's first private DNA paternity testing laboratory in 1987.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is the body's genetic 'blueprint'. It is a long thread-like molecule which carries the "genetic code" that determines our individual characteristics. DNA is found in almost all of the billions of cells that make up our body. Every child inherits a unique mixture of DNA from its parents so, except for identical twins, no two people in the world have exactly the same genetic code.

It works by detecting certain parts, or 'markers' in the
DNA molecule that are known to vary greatly between unrelated people.
Our tests compare the DNA at a number of these markers to determine if people are related.

The process is called Short Tandem Repeat (STR) profiling. STR profiling is a very sensitive DNA testing procedure that was originally developed for forensic analysis.
DNA is extracted from the sample and a special enzyme is used to copy the
genetic code at the relevant regions in the DNA. An STR profile is the result of several separate DNA tests.

Cellmark produces
standard reports within 3-5 working days from when we receive the
samples in our laboratory. If you are happy that it is in everyone's
best interest you can start the process now.

Completing our online
registration form will only take a few minutes, however you will need
to see a Doctor or Nurse to have your DNA sample taken. Once we've received
your sample it only takes a few days to get the results to you by first
class post.

When a mother, child and possible father are tested
Cellmark's results will either show he is not the father or normally provide
proof of paternity with a confidence level of 99.99% and usually greater than
99.999%.

We also carry out other types of relationship testing, for further
details please contact our Customer Service team on 08000 362522.

Yes, under the requirements
of UK Data Protection laws, the service and results are confidential.
Everyone who gives a sample or has PR for the child on the case is entitled to request a copy of the results. Results are not passed on to any third
parties unless you request us to do so. In order to further protect
confidentiality we do not discuss results of tests over the telephone.

You will need to
make an appointment have your samples taken by a Doctor or a Nurse.
At that appointment a mouth swab will be rubbed gently and painlessly
on the inside of your mouth to collect a sample of cheek cells.

You will also need to complete a consent form at the surgery (please
remember to take 2 passport style photographs of each person being
tested to the appointment) and these and the sample will then sent
to Cellmark by the surgery.

When carrying out
a paternity test the DNA of the mother, the child and the possible
father are compared using the latest DNA analysis technology. A
child inherits half of his or her DNA from each parent, so every
genetic marker in the child’s pattern should be present in
either the mother’s or father’s DNA.
In this example the test has identified 2 markers in the child’s DNA.
One of the child's markers has been inherited from its mother; the other has
been inherited from its father.

In this example the alleged father does not share any markers with the child
and is therefore excluded from paternity (i.e. cannot be the father).

Two passport sized
photographs and the signatures of each person being tested must
be presented at the sampling appointment. These can be used to
confirm the identity of the person(s) being tested and are sent
with the samples to Cellmark.

In paternity cases all identification paperwork is held by Cellmark
for a period of 1 year after which time the paperwork is destroyed
in compliance with our registration with the Data Protection Act.

The use of mouth swabs means
that testing can be performed on a child of any age after birth. Some companies
may offer pre-natal DNA testing but Cellmark agrees with the Human Genetics
commission's view that knowing the identity of the genetic father of the
foetus could significantly influence the decision whether or not to proceed
with a pregnancy and therefore Cellmark does not offer pre-natal DNA testing.

Our quality management
system has met ISO standards since 1990 and our laboratory procedures
are accredited to ISO9001:2000 and ISO17025 and are subject to external
monitoring. We are accredited by the Ministry of Justice as a body that may carry out parentage tests (otherwise called DNA Testing or Paternity Testing) as directed by the civil courts in England and Wales under section 20 of the Family Law Reform Act 1969 and we also adhere to the Human Genetics Commissions "Common Framework of Principles on DNA testing".

In certain circumstances it may be
possible to assess more complex relationships such as brothers and sisters or
grandparents and grandchildren. For more information please contact our Customer Service team on 0800 043 4247.

You can pay for
your paternity test with a credit or debit card via our online registration
service. The service uses secure server technology to ensure that
your data and all records of the transaction are protected.

If you would prefer not to pay online please contact our Customer
Services advisors on 08000 362522 to register and pay for your
test.

The samples are
sent to our laboratories in specially designed tamper-evident packaging.
Once testing is complete and you have received the results, your
DNA sample is stored securely for 3 months after which time it is
destroyed.

In paternity cases all identification paperwork is held by Cellmark
for a period of 1 year after testing is complete after which time
it is destroyed in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

As directed by Data Protection laws your information will not be
passed onto anyone you have not given us authorisation to do so.
For further information please refer to our privacy
policy, you can learn more about the Act by clicking
on this link.

We do not give out
or discuss results over the telephone, however we are pleased to
answer written enquiries about your specific results and to talk
through general issues relating to DNA paternity testing. Call our
Customer Services team on 0800 036 2522.

If you require further information, or your question isn't listed here,
then please call one of our friendly, professional and confidential Customer
Service advisors on 0800 043 4247, or send your question
via email to info@cellmark.co.uk,
or use our discrete SMS
service.

The Legal Aid Agency has produced a range of information to assist solicitors and individuals in establishing whether their case is eligible for Legal Aid funding and this can be accessed via the following web page - http://legal-aid-checker.justice.gov.uk/ we recommend you use this as a starting point before embarking on the complex process of applying for legal aid.